Pete Tscherewik (words) & David Airey (pics) at Meadow Lane
THE Magpies bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy after a spirited display against National League leaders Notts County.
The home side came out of the blocks quickly and Geraldo Bjarami was the first to direct an effort at Matt Urwin in goal – a header just wide following a short corner.
The hosts racked up six corners in the opening quarter of an hour but it was Connor Hall who wheeled away celebrating his 13th of the season minutes later having got on the end of Scott Leather’s cross.
Jon Ustabasi and Hall had chances to extend Chorley’s advantage and Notts took full advantage of that – Sam Austin prodding home the rebound from Cedwyn Scott’s initial shot.
The game looked poised to go in all-square at the break only for Leather to trickle the ball into his own net from Aaron Nemane’s cross.
Notts found themselves fortunate not to be a man down soon after the restart, keeper Brad Young wiping out Hall after going past him him 35-yards from goal.
It was only yellow for the home stopper, with Ollie Shenton hitting the post from the resulting free-kick, right before Sam Austin darted down the other end and forced a stunning save out of Urwin.
The homeside continued to press at Chorley’s goal and Urwin again was kept busy – eight saves made on the night and the best one coming right at the death, keeping out Ed Francis’s shot from point blank range.
Notts County Young; Brindley, Cameron (c), O’Brien (Francis, 68′), Austin, Nemane, Bajrami, Palmer, Scott (Mitchell, 70′), Adebayo-Rowling, Bostock. Subs not used: Slocombe, Castro, Rodrigues, Mahovo, Cisse.
Chorley Urwin (c); Henley, Smith, Leather (c), Nolan, Whitehouse, Calveley, Ustabaşı, Shenton (Tomlinson, 75′), Blakeman (Wilson, 37′), Hall (Johnson, 59′). Subs not used: Okome, Owens, Lloyd, Barry.
I thought we did very well against a very good side. We could have done better on the goals we conceded and maybe we’d have taken another one of our chances in the first half it may have been a different story – Andy Preece
HT 2-1
Goals (assists) Austin 33′, Leather (OG, 45’+2) | Hall 18′ (Leather)
Cautions Young 50′, Palmer 90’+5 | Wilson 83′
Dismissals None | None
Crowd 2,040 (88 away)
Officials Paul Marsden | Tim Walker & Ashley Royston | Callum Peake
Next Up
Our Boxing Day clash (3pm) with AFC Fylde at Mill Farm..
- Seating Adults £18 | Under-16s £10 | Under-12s £8
- Standing Adults £12 | Under-21s £7 | Under-16s £6 | Under-12s FREE*
- Tickets Buy online here | Buy at the Chorley FC club shop
- Walk-ups Not available on match day – all tickets must be bought in advance
*FREE under-12 tickets must be booked in advance by calling 01772 682593